Enter the Bungakudo Biyoshitsu Retri hair salon and you'll see many bookshelves to the left and right. Located in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, this hair salon is also a private library.
There are three seats in which customers can get their hair cut surrounded by many books.
Owner-manager Yasutaka Namatame came up with the idea as he was preparing to become an independent business operator. He wanted to make the collection of about 2,000 books at his home into an appealing feature of his hair salon.
Order-made book shelves were installed in the space with the help of an interior decorating firm, and the hair salon/private library opened in November 2018. The books include a relatively large number of novels. Namatame said he and his customers "naturally start discussions about books."
A company employee in his 30s from Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, likes reading and learned of the hair salon through social media.
"I feel secure when I get a haircut surrounded by books. I can also read books that I'd wanted to," the customer said.
According to Machi Library, an Osaka-based general incorporated association that helps individuals and companies open libraries, there are currently 749 private libraries around Japan. This is more than four times the number five years ago.
In the Schatzkiste private library and cafe in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, customers are welcomed by waitresses in traditional maid costumes with long skirts. Many of the books were donated by the waitresses and reflect their interests.
The books cover a wide range of genres, including such subjects as zombies, philosophy, novels and dojinshi fanzines. There are also picture books for children, so family groups sometimes come to the cafe.
The name of the cafe means "treasure box" in German. Private libraries are full of unique features and appeal unlike those of publicly run libraries.
Owner Erice Arii said, "I want our customers to enjoy encounters with books that fulfill their intellectual curiosity."
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